2025 NBA Playoff Picture, Bracket, Standings

The 2025 NBA Playoffs are still a ways off, but it’s never too early to take a look at the playoff picture.

Seeds 7-10 will compete in the NBA Play-in Tournament to advance to the first round of the NBA playoffs. Here’s what the playoffs would look like if the season ended today*:

Eastern Conference Seeding

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Boston Celtics
3. New York Knicks
4. Orlando Magic
5. Indiana Pacers
6. Milwaukee Bucks
7. Miami Heat
8. Detroit Pistons
9. Atlanta Hawks
10. Chicago Bulls

Eastern Conference Bracket

• (1) Cavs vs. (8) Winner of play-in
• (2) Celtics vs. (7) Winner of play-in
• (3) Knicks vs. (6) Bucks
• (4) Magic vs. (5) Pacers

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Western Conference Seeding

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Houston Rockets
3. Memphis Grizzlies
4. Denver Nuggets
5. Dallas Mavericks
6. LA Clippers
7. Los Angeles Lakers
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
9. Sacramento Kings
10. Phoenix Suns

Western Conference Bracket

• (1) Thunder vs. (8) Winner of play-in
• (2) Rockets vs. (7) Winner of play-in
• (3) Grizzlies vs. (6) Clippers
• (4) Nuggets vs. (5) Mavericks

NBA Play-In Tournament Bracket

Eastern Conference

• (7) Miami Heat vs. (8) Detroit Pistons
• (9) Atlanta Hawks vs. (10) Chicago Bulls

Western Conference

• (7) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Minnesota Timberwolves
• (9) Sacramento Kings vs. (10) Phoenix Suns

* As of 1/14/2025

How many teams make the NBA playoffs?

Sixteen teams in total make the NBA playoffs, eight teams from both the Eastern and Western Conference. The top six seeds in each conference advance based on the regular season record. The final two seeds in each conference are determined by the NBA Play-In Tournament.

2025 NBA Playoffs Schedule & Key Dates

• April 15-18: NBA play-in tournament (ESPN, TNT)
• April 19: NBA playoffs first round begin (ABC, ESPN, TNT, NBA TV)
• May 5-6: NBA conference semifinals begin (ABC, ESPN, TNT)
• May TBD: NBA conference finals begin (ABC, ESPN, TNT)
• June 5: NBA Finals begin (ABC)

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